Nine-times Bathurst 1000 winner (10 if you count his 24-hour victory last year) Peter Brock is selling his road-going Monaro, which has performance modifications and is one of only five built.

Brock Monaro for sale

Nine-times Bathurst 1000 winner (10 if you count his 24-hour victory last year) Peter Brock is selling his road-going Monaro, which has performance modifications and is one of only five built.

The Australian legend wants $85,000 for the light blue Monaro with 23,000km on the clock, which is a cool $25,000 above the retail price of a brand new one. Then again, it does get a modified V8 claimed to produce 340kW -- and there's a good chance it's been satisfactorily run-in -- as well as braking and handling enhancements.

For some enthusiasts, given the car's heritage, it will no doubt be an attractive proposition. The bad news is that the number plates -- MNRO 05, representing Brock's famous racing number -- will not be included in the sale.

Greater Escape

Ford this week added a four-cylinder version of the Escape to what is a mildly facelifted line-up in line with similar changes made recently to its twin-under-the-skin, the Mazda Tribute.

The compact Ford off-roader, which shares its mechanicals and underpinnings with the almost-identical Mazda Tribute, now has a $31,990 entry price. The 2.3-litre engine is essentially borrowed from the Mazda6 but misses out on the variable valve timing technology, which means a 14kW reduction in power, from 122kW to 108kW. Ford didn't want the previous 90kW four-cylinder engine, saying it wasn't powerful enough for what Ford buyers expect.

Game, set and scratch

Kia was happy to see its 85 promotional cars being used to transport tennis players and officials for the Australian Open arrive back with nothing more than "minor scrapes".

The company claims the 200 drivers acting as chauffeurs in its cars were all trained and "chosen because of their calmness and aptitude".

"The last thing you want to do is terrify an already tense tennis player," a spokesman said.

The vehicles, with extras not generally seen on Kias here, will be sold through dealers with a plaque boasting of their use in the tournament.

Mazda launches air war

In line with recent price reductions in the entry-level light-car class, Mazda has knocked $1000 off the price of its five-door 2 hatchback.

Selling from $17,490 including air-conditioning, the company is also boasting of the 2's optional safety pack, which sells for $1200 and includes side airbags in the front and curtain airbags down the side glass -- the first time such features have been available in a car costing less than $20,000.

Less is more for Volvo

Buyers of Volvo's new V50 wagon are in for a bit of a surprise -- the load bay volume is smaller than the outgoing V40. "We've concentrated on getting a flat floor to make ease of use the priority," says project director Peter Ewerstrand.

The V50 has a 50mm longer rear overhang than the S40 and is 40kg heavier.

As for the look, which is curvier than any Volvo wagons in the past, Volvo Australia says it still hasn't won the battle to have the S40's more modern grille replace the V50s older-style vertical grille for V50s sold here.

Believing the egg-crate grille is more suitable as Volvo struggles to reposition its brand here -- and off-load the hat-wearing image -- the Australian distributor says that despite America's wish for the more modern grille being granted, it doesn't necessarily mean we will get it.

"That's a different market," Volvo spokesman Todd Hallenbeck said. "We still haven't been given permission."

The V50 is due to arrive here mid-year, assuming demand in the US doesn't delay deliveries.

In their ear

The vice-chairman of America's National Transportation Safety Board, Mark Rosenker, reportedly asked car makers at a conference in Las Vegas to fit hands-free mobile phone technology to all new vehicles.

He was responding to recent global concerns about the dangers of using a phone while driving.

Holding a phone to your ear while driving -- or, worse still, sending text messages -- is illegal in Victoria, where it is claimed to be as dangerous as driving while drunk.

What's on

Picnic at Hanging Rock is on this Sunday near the Macedon Ranges, with entry $12 for cars and $5 for motorbikes. It is preceded by a breakfast at Calder Raceway from 7am followed by a 9am cruise to the Rock. More information at www.mradmc.com.au Prices and details correct at publication date.